8 Cell Phones Later

I stuck the sticky note to the back of my door with makeup, straightener, toothbrush/toothpaste, cell phone/charger and blanket written across it. A few hours later I bolted out of bed. Today was the day I had been waiting 18 years for. I was moving out! I got ready, double and triple checked my sticky note of last minute things to pack and headed out the door. Four hours later, I was crying as I watched my mom and dad leave me all alone in a city, not twice the size, but 200 times the size of my itty-bitty Paris Idaho.

That was exactly 3 years and 4 months ago. I still write sticky notes and put them on the back of my door as reminders. I don't double or triple check my packing anymore--even though I should. Provo is not that big, but Paris is that small! I don't cry when I leave home anymore, well, usually not. And I, and I, and I....what the hell have I been doing for 3 years?!

A few days ago it dawned on me that the morning I described earlier, which is still so vibrant in my memory, was over 3 years ago! I still think of myself as this young, lost and naive freshman, but that's not true. In fact, the current freshman are the high school students I taught in my 276R teaching class! That was a weird moment looking across the Cougar Eat and realizing that boy, who was once my student, is now my fellow BYU student.

To be honest, this made me sad. I felt like I hadn't done anything in the last three years. Then I made a list...

1. I have not dropped out of college despite my longing to do so.

2. I have not failed more than 2 college courses.

3. I have had a total of 7 hair colors including purple, blue and blonde.

4. I have moved 5 times.

5. I have traveled past northern Utah.

6. I have discovered the wonderful world of online shopping.

7. I have loved.

8. I have lost love.

9. I have gone to Canada.

10. I have seen Mexico.

11. I have changed interdepartmental jobs 3 times.

12. I have lost my testimony.

13. I have gained a stronger testimony.

14. I have watched every episode of House, Dexter and Cupcake Wars.

15. I have written more papers than I could count.

16. I have baked more cupcakes than I could count as well.

17. I have taught 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade and Sunday School, which was by far the scariest.

18. I have had 5 minors and only 1 major.

19. I have come to love my family more than I can explain.

20. I have not stopped wearing my boots, Carhartt coat or my 20 year old sweater no matter how socially unacceptable they are for Provo.

21. I have come to like a lot more people.

22. I have come to dislike a lot more people.

23. I have expanded my bookshelf by 4 times its original size.

24. I have been called to the Service Committee 4 times. 4. I'm not joking.

25. I have, at times, been entirely happy.

26. I have talked to God. Yelled at, laughed with, sworn at, followed closely, ignored completely, cried honestly and loved God. We have a roller coaster type of relationship.

27. I have never doubted that I want to teach.

28. I have gone through 8 cell phones.

29. I have completely trusted. Once.

30. I have had 3 good years.